Rotary drive wheel type can opener



June 1, 194s. R. E. MCLEAN 2,442,704

ROTARY DRIVE WHEEL TYPE CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 12, 1947 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIQJ. FI@ a.

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3s 39 l2 1,2@ arrI3 39 fqber/ Mclean June l, 1948. R, E, McLEAN l 2,442,704

x ROTARY DRIVE WHEEL TYPE CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 35 30 34 I 1mm Rober-LE. Mall am Patented June l, 1948 UNITED ROTARY DRIVE WHEELTYPE CAN OPENER Robert E. McLean, Fort Benning, Ga'. Application February 12, 1947, Serial No. 728,064

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of cutlery and is directed particularly to improvements in can openers of the rotary drive wheel type.

vide a ca n opener having a single operating han-- dleby means of which clockwise rotation thereof causes a cutter to puncture the end of the can to which the device is applied, to hold the device and the can in operative rotation and cut the end Out oi the can, and subsequent counterclockwise rotation' oi the said single operating handle functioning to release the can from the device, a particular feature of the present invention residing in a novel thrust mechanism operatively'coupled with the can rim engaging driving wheel whereby rotation of said wheel imparts rotation to an element of the thrust means to effect a smooth, positive and strong movement of the VVdrive wheel and the can engaged therewith, relative to a fixed cutter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a rotary drive wheel can opener, a novel thrust mechanism whereby the can rim engaging rotary drive wheel has movement relative to a Xed cutter and has the rim engaging piece thereof operatively coupled with a piece of a thrust gear which is adapted for movement transversely of the line of movement of the driving wheel or gear whereby rotation of an operating handle for the driving wheel eiects movement of the thrust gear to a position under the driving wheel to force the latter toward the Xed cutter Vand vcounter-clockwise movement of the operating handle shifts the thrust gear to one side to permit the driving wheel to move away from the Xed cutter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotary drive wheel can opener of the character above described, wherein there is provided a horizontally movable rack unit with which the thrust gear operatively engages when the Vdriving wheel operating handle is turned countei'-, clockwise, whereby lateral shifting of the thrust gear is effected with a minimum of friction and amini-mum of eort, the saidrack member having a resilient means associated therewith for normally urging it to a position where an operative coupling will be established between the rack and the thrust gear promptly upon counter-clockwise rotation of the operating handle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the character stated having a thrust mechanism for effecting the functioning of the can that operates with a minimum Ajn object of the present invention is to proof @effort onY theY part of the operator by reason of thev great leverage aiorded and the particular construction whereby all thrust parts are positioned in the same plane. u

Still another object of the invention is to Ypro'- vide a can opener of the character stated, wherein a bearing which takes the downward-'thrust imposed upon the can Vdriving wheel, is positioned in approximately the same plane as the point-chc thruston the can driving wheel.

A still further object of the inventionisto provide a can openerof the character stated, whichl isof comparatively'small-size and which canibe economically produced;

The invention will behest understood from a consid-eration Vof the following detailed description taken in connecti'en with the vaccompanying drawingsforming a part ofthe speeiication, with the understanding-however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of `the drawingsV but may be changed or modified so long as such claingesor modifications mark n o material departure fromthesalient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

inthe drawings: Y

Figure' I is a view in elevation of the outer or r-ight hand side of a can opener constructed in accordance with the-present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation ofthe inner or left hand side of thesame.

Figure is a viewin top `pleno of the opener.

Figure 4 vis a ViewV in front elevation of the opener.

Figure/,5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on thelline 6 6 of Figure 5.

'Figure 7 is a sectional view corresponding to the lower partoffli'gure 5 but showing-the thrust gear-in rearwardly shi'fted inoperative position.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section takensubstantially on thel-ine 8 8 of Figure 5 A g Figure o is la yView in elevation gr the right hand Yside of a modified-embodiment in which the device is secured to-Aa supporting arm attached to a wall for other supnortin'g structure.

Referring -lnowmore y particularly tothe drawings the numeral lill-in 'Figure /1 to 8 inclusive, generally designate'aV body plate oi" rectangular form, `wljiiclris verticallydisposed in theuseof the device. This -bodyplate `at its lower edgeis connected'bythe narrow laterally extendng ange or webA portionli, withthebottom edgeof an'upstandingV portion l2, whichV upstanding portion the vertical center, is an elliptical slot or opening I4. This slot has mounted therein for rotary movement and for a movement longitudinally of the slot and, accordingly, vertically of the body plate, a journal I'5 through which extends a shaft IB which forms an integral part of a thumb` and finger crank I1.

Upon the left or inner side of body plate'IIl` the shaft I6 has mounted thereon and secured thereto, the can rim engaging toothed driving wheel I8. This wheel has pointed teeth I9 which thrust gear are directly in vertical alignment, the thrust link 2l] will be vertically disposed as will be readily apparent. When the thrust gear 21 is moved transversely of the plate or rearwardly where the trunnion 26 is located at the rear end of the slot 24, the thrust link 20 will assume a position oblique to the length of the plate as shown in Figure 1 and the driving wheel will ride down on the front side of the thrust gear as shown in Figures 2 and 7. As shown in `Figure 6 the outer end of the journal 2E is of reduced diameterY and is fixed in a suitable open- A ing in the lower end of the thrust link 20, as

perform a double function in that they engage under the flange or rim of the can and they also engage teeth of a thrust gear, hereinafter described.

Upon the right hand or outer side of the body plate I and opposite from the toothed driving wheel I3, is positioned a thrust link 2D. This link has in one end, a bearing opening 2| in which is positioned the journal 22. This journal 22 is of the same diameter as the journal I and is positioned directly thereagainst and, as will be readily apparent, the journals I5 and 22 may be formed as a single unit if desired. Accordingly, the shaft I6 passes thru the journal 22 and such journal is maintained in position against a tendency to move outwardly on the shaft I6, by the collar 23 which is traversed by and fixed to the shaft and maintained in position by engagement against the adjacent side of the thumb and finger crank I1. Y

As is readily apparent the slotted end of the link is positioned across the elliptical opening I4 and the link extends downwardly across a transverse bearing opening 24 formed thru the body plate below the elliptical opening I4. As'

shown most clearly in Figure 1, one end only of the opening 24, is disposed directly below the elliptical opening I4, the major portion of the opening 24 extending rearwardly across the longitudinal center of the plate. At the end of the opening 24 which is directly below the elliptical opening I4, the opening 24 has the lower edge thereof elevated slightly to provide a journal seat Disposed in and extending thru the opening 24 is the journal 26 which has secured thereon, for rotation, on the left hander inner side of the body plate I0, the thrust gear 21, the teeth 28 of which mesh with the teeth of the driving wheel I8.

The forward end of the transverse opening 24 is of a width between the top edge and the seat 25, to snugly receive the trunnion 26 and when the trunnion is in position in this end of the opening, upon the seat 25, its center is directly in line longitudinally of the plate with the rotary center of the driving wheel I8 and the diameter of the thrust gear 21 is such that when the journal 26 is in this last named position the driving wheel will be elevated to a position where the journal I5 will be just slightly :short of the extreme upward position to which it might be -Inoved in the elliptical opening I4. Also, when the centers of the driving wheel and indicated at 29, whereby the foregoing action is obtained.

yDisposedbetween the lower part of the body plate I0 and the upturned portion I2, and slidably supported upon the connecting intermediate portion II, is slidably mounted the rack plate 30. The rear end portion of the plate 30 has formed along the top edge the upstanding teeth 3I which are at a proper elevation for engagement by the teeth of the thrust gear 21 when rotation is given the latter byY counter-clockwise rotation of the thumb and finger crank I1. This toothedv portion 3| of the rack plate extends thru substantially half the length of the plate at the rear and the portion of the plate forwardly of the teeth is of reduced height so that when the gear 21 is rotated by clockwise turning of the thumb and finger crank so as to shift the thrust gear to its forward position as shown in Figure 5, the teeth of the thrust gear will disengage from the rack teeth and continued rotation can be given to the thrust gear and to the can driving wheel.

The plate or rack unit 30 has formed therethru the two longitudinal slots 32 and 33. The slot 32 is here shown as being in the rear portion of the plate and there extends thru each of these slots, a movementv limiting pin 34 which is in the form of a rivet extending thru and connecting lower portions of the plates ID and I2.

The slot 32 of therack plate is of substantial length and lthere is housed therein and interposed between the adjacent pin 34 and the forward endof the slot, the spring unit 35 which constantly tends to urge the rack plate to the limit of its movement forwardly.

On the left hand side ofthe body plate I0 there is fixed at the top end of the plate the knife head 36. This head is in the form of an open frame having a straight side bar portion 31 connected with the right angularly extending end portions 38, each of which terminates in the inwardly turned foot portions 39 which bear against the inner side of the body plate and are secured thereto by the rivets .40.

Disposed against the inner side ofY the side portion 31 of the head unit,.is a knife or cutter 4I which is secured `place by the screws 42. The lower end of this cutter extends below the part 31 to which it isattached and across and in spaced relation vWith,.the.inner side faceof the can driving wheel as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6. The lower end of the knife 4I is pointed as indicated at 4,3 to facilitate proper penetration of the can head when the latter is forced against the knife. I

Figure 9 illustrates the application of the present cutter or openerto a fixed arm which is I designed to be secured by a suitable bracket, not

shown, to any satisfactory support suchas the wall or thelike.n In this modified embodiment the supporting arm is generally designated 44 and the forward end portion is of reduced width asindicated at 45, to extend across the right hand or outer side of the body plate of the opener, which plate is here generally designatedlll.

The rivets by means of which the cutter head is secured to the body plate are employed for securing the body plate to the arm, such rivets being designated dii and in addition to these there is employed a third rivet designated ll" which is passed through the supporting arm 44 and to the body plate lli just above' the toothed thrust wheel 21 and rearwardly of the elliptical body plate opening l2'.

The construction of the arm supported embodiment of the invention is the same as that first described and shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive with the exception that the shaft I6', instead of being formed as an integral part of a thumb and nger crank, terminates in and is secured to one end of a relatively long hand crank lit. The outer or free end of this hand crank is equipped with a suitable means, not shown, for grasping the crank such, for example, as a knob.

In the use of the present opener, reference being made particularly to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 8, although it will be understood that the same explanation applies to the bracket supported embodiment shown in Figure 9, if the supporting thrust gear 21 is not in extreme rearward position as it is shown in Figures 2 and 7, the operating handle l1 is rotated counter-clockwise until the thrust gear is in such position. The can driving wheel IB will then be in its lowest position.

The device is then placed on the can with its cutter blade 4| over the rim or flange of the can. The operating handle I1 is then rotated clockwise until the end of the can is cut out. Reverse or counter-clockwise rotation of the operating handle I1 then releases the can from the device and prepares it for reception of the next can.

The upper edge of the slot 24, through the journal rivet 26, maintains the teeth of the supporting thrust gear 21 in mesh with the teeth 3| of the rack 3d at all times except when the supporting thrust gear 21 is in the position illustrated in Figure 5 and is rotated' clockwise as viewed in that figure. The spring 35 urges the rack 30 forwardly against the pins 34, the forward pin limiting the movement of the rack forwardly, rearwardly and upwardly as shown. The rear pin limits the movement of the rack forwardly and upwardly.

The link 28 maintains the axis of the supporting thrust gear 21 a predetermined distance from the axis of the can driving wheel I8 at all times to keep the teeth of the supporting thrust gear '21 properly meshed with the teeth of the can driving wheel I8 during the operation of the opener and as the can is being punctured and also during the operation of cutting the end out of the can, the can driving wheel I8 seats on the supporting thrust gear 21.

The opening 2| formed in the upper end of the link 2! for the journal 22, is slightly elliptical in order that the journal 22 will never bear `downwardly on the link and thus interfere with the can driving wheel I8 properly seating on the supporting thrust gear 21,.

The lower edge of the slot 24, except the seat portion 25, is suiiioiently below the journal rivet 26 that it will never interfere with the supporting thrust gear 21 seating on the teeth of the rack 6 30;V The teeth of the can driving lwheel i8y would preferably be slightly longer than thoseoi the supporting thrust gear 21 in order that the portion of the teeth, of the can driving wheel i8 engaging the under edge of the rim or flange of the can, would not be in engagement with the teeth of the supporting thrust gear M. Y

During the operation of opening a can, olokf wise rotation of the operating handle l1 will first cause the can driving wheel I3 to rotate the supporting thrust gear 21 counterfclockwisejAs the supporting thrust gear 21 rotates counter-clock'- wise, it moves forwardly on the rack 30 VfromV the position shown in Figure 2. in effect, the -can driving wheel I 8 seats on the rack 30'fthrough the supporting thrust gear 21. As the supporting thrust gear 21 is rotated further forwardly, the can driving wheel I8 is forced upwardly and, in` asmuch as the inner ends of its teeth are under the rim or flange of the can, the cutter lll-is forced downwardly to puncture the end ofthe can in an obvious manner. When the supporting thrust gear 21 arrives'near the forwardendo'f the slot 24 it fulcrums from the forward tooth fof the rack 30 until the journal rivet 2B seats-onthe seat 25 provided therefor. Also, further forward movement of the journal rivet 26 is prevented by the forward end of the slot 24. As the supporting thrust gear 21 is rotated further clockwise as viewed in Figure 5, it moves the rack Sil-rearwardly, against the comparatively light tension of the spring 35, in an obvious manner, th for'-V ward tooth of the rack 30 racheting with the teeth of the supporting thrust gear 21. When the journal rivet 25 arrives on .theV seat '25,' the supporting thrust gear 21 is thensuppo'rt-edfor rotation on the said journal rivet 26. Inas'much as the spring35 urges the rack30 to the position illustrated in Figure 5 at all times, counter-clockwise rotation of the operating handle 111 will cause the supporting thrust gear 21 to move rearwardly, fulcruming on the forward tooth of the ra'ck' to rise slightly and lifting Ythe journal rivet 26 from its seat 25. The thumb-.and finger crank or handle I1 may then be further rotated-coun-r ter-clockwise untilthe supporting thrust gear 21 arrives to the position which it sshown in Figure 2, at which time the can driving wheel 18 will again be in its lowest position. i It will be seen that the rack 30, tliesupp'orting thrust gear 21, the portion of the journalrivet 26 upon which the supporting thrust gear 21 :is supported for rotation when not supported 'on the r-ack 30, and the can driving wheell8,are all in the same plane, which materially reduces operating friction and thereby promotes the ease of operation. I

If desired, the teeth of the `can Vdriving wheel l 8, the teeth of the cooperatingsupportingthrust gear 2-1, and the teeth of the cooperating rack '35, may be formed 4in any vother siZeand/orl'contour desired. l

While the foregoing description ofthe operation has been directed particularly to the-struc'- ture shown in Figures l to 8 inclusive 4it willbe obvious how this description applies also to the structure shownin Figure-9. Y

The portion 31V of the supporting fra-rneoha's suiiicient resiliency to permit the cutte'rblile 4l to be forced away from the can drivingwlie'el'l-S, laterally, a predetermined amount` when necessary, such as when passing the seam of the can. If desired, a separate part can be used for the can driving wheel and secured on the same axis as the illustrated can driving wheel I8 but to illustrated as the can driving wheel would func-Y tion as -a gear. In such construction, the frame supporting the cutter blade 4| would, obviously, be extended to the left as required. I

Also, if desired, the journal rivet 26 may be formed with-a head for retaining the supporting thrust gear 21. When so formed, the can guard I3 would either be terminated below the head of such alternately formed journal rivet or extend-- ed upwardly and provided with a suitable slot in which the head would lie.

I claim:

1. A rotary drive wheel type can opener comprising a body plate designed to be positioned vertically for use and having an elongated opening extending longitudinally therein, a journal mounted in said opening for rotation and shifting movement between raised and lowered positions therein, a toothed can rim engaging driving wheel secured on said journal, a thrust gear having toothed connection with said wheel, means supporting the gear for movement in a path extending across the line of movement of the wheel carrying journal in said opening, said gear when at the limit of its movement in one direction having its rotary center in line longitudinally of the plate with the center of the driving wheel and supporting the wheel and journal in raised position, a cutter supported by the body plate for coaction with the wheel when the latter is in said raised position, and means for rotating the wheel.

2. A rotary drive wheel type can opener of the character stated in claim 1, wherein the said means for supportingv the gear for movement comprises an elongated opening formed in the body plate, and a journal mounted in the opening for rotary movement and for movement longitudinally of the opening.

3. A rotary drive wheel type can opener of the character stated in claim 1, wherein the said means for supporting the gear for movement comprises an elongated slot formed in and extending in a direction transversely of the plate, a journal carrying the gear and extending through said slot'and adapted for rotation and movement longitudinally therein, and a link operatively coupling the last named journal and said driving wheel and disposed upon the opposite side of the body plate from the driving wheel and gear.

4. A rotary drive wheel type can opener of the character stated in claim 1, with a toothed rack supported by the body plate beneath and in toothed connection with said thrust gear when the thrust gear is away from the said limit of its movement in one direction, said toothed rack being positioned and adapted to have the thrust gear run out oi toothed connection therewith when the gear is at the limit of its movement in the said one direction. v

5. A rotary drive wheel type can opener of the character stated in claim 1, wherein the said means supporting the gear for movement comprises anelongated slot formed throughthe body plate at an elevation below the said elongated opening and terminating at one end directly in line longitudinally of the plate with the elongated opening, a journal mounted in said slot and supportingrsaid gear, the slot at the said one end being of a height `substantially equal to the diameter of said last journal and of increased diameter toward its other end, a link operatively coupling said journals together and positioned on the opposite side of the body plate from the wheel and gear, and said link having slight longitudinal free movement on the first mentioned journal.

6. A rotary drive Wheel type can opener comprising a substantially rectangular plate designed to be vertically positioned for use, the plate having an elongated opening formed therein and having its long axis longitudinally of the plate, a cutting element rigidly supported in spaced parallel relation with one side face of the plate, a journal in said elongated opening and adapted to move` vertically therein and to rotate therein, a shaft extending through the journal, a toothed driving wheel supported upon the shaft against the said one side of the body plate and in a plane between the body plate and the cutting element, means connected with the shaft on the other side of the body plate for rotating the shaft, a slot formed through the4 body plate in a transverse direction and in a plane below the elongated opening, one end of the slot being in line longitudinally of the plate with the elongated opening, a journal extending through the slot and adapted to move longitudinally thereof and to rotate therein, a toothed thrust gear carried by the journal against the said one side face of the plate and having toothed connection with the driving wheel, said last mentioned journal when in the said one end of the slot positioning the thrust gear directly beneath the toothed driving wheel and maintaining the toothed driving wheel in raised position ffor coaction with said cutter, and a link connecting said shaft with the second mentioned journal and disposed against the said opposite side face of the body plate.

'7. A rotary drive wheel type can opener of the character stated in claim 6, with a toothed rack supported beneath the thrust gear beneath the major portion of the slot away from the said one said end of the slot for toothed engagement with the teeth of the thrustgear when the second mentioned journal is moved toward the other end of the slotsaid thrust gear teeth running out of engagement with the rack teeth when the thrust gear is in position to maintain the driving wheel in its raised position.

Y. 8. A rotary drive wheel type can opener of the character stated in claim 7, wherein said rack is supported for limited movement transversely of the body plate, and springmeans normally urging movement of the rack in a direction to facilitate engagement of the thrust gear teeth with the rackv teeth upon rotation` of the thrust gear in oneV direction.

. ROBERT E. MCLEAN.

REFERENCES CITED VThe: following references are of record in the ille of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number l Y Name Date 1,693,020 Y Bruneau Nov. 27, 1928 2,090,382 Zaremba Aug. 17, 1937 2,186,668 e VCurtis Jan. 9, 1940 

